Building-partitions or dividers



June 4, 1963 R. o. YOUNG 3,0 9

BUILDING-PARTITIONS OR DIVIDE-RS Filed Nov. 16, 1959 En IIII l gl JINVENTOR: ROYCE O. YOUNG United States Patent 3,092,219BUILDING-PARTITIONS 0R DIVIDERS Royce 0. Young, Chicago Heights, 111.,assignor to Unistrut Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation ofIllinois Filed Nov. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 853,263 2 Claims. (Cl. 18934)This invention relates to improvements in partitioning and/ or dividers.

In modern buildings, of practically every construction and use, there isneed for varied partitioning of the interiors, after the main exteriorwalls have been erected. Because of the changing personnel, activitiesand/or tenants, partitions often have to be added, repositioned orremoved.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a new and novelknockdown partition or area divider; to provide improved supportsanchorable to building floors, walls and/or ceilings for locating roompartitions or dividers in any desired relationship; to provide improvedpartition supports of this kind having interfitting attachable elementsone for anchoring to the building structure and the other for mountingpartition panels; to provide improved means for attaching the panelmounting element to the building anchoring element; to provide improvedmeans for retaining panels on mounting elements; and to provide improvedpartition of this kind of such simple form and interfitting arrangementas to make their manufacture very economical, their assembly anddisassembly extremely facile, and the resulting partition or divider ofgreat stability.

One specific embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in whichFIGURE 1 is a miniature perspective of a floor-toceiling partitionconstructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective of the assembled supportelements embodying this invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective showing how an anchoring element issecured to the building structure;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of two of the partitionsupports secured together back to back when used as intermediate studs;

FIG. 5 is a transverse, sectional, detail taken on the plane of the line55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one end of the panelretaining bar; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one part of the fastener whereby thepartition mounting element is secured to the building anchoring element.

The essential concept of this invention involves two channel-shapedelements, one a stamping and the other an extrusion, interlocked ininterfitting opposition by removable fasteners, one of which elements isadapted for removable anchoring to the building structure and the otherof which is ornamentally contoured and grooved to seat removable barsfor retaining panels in place on the support.

A partition-support embodying the foregoing concept comprises a pair ofchannel-shaped elements 8 and 9 adapted to be secured in embracive,interfitting opposition by fasteners 10 and supporting panels 11 inplace by retaining bars 12.

The channel-shaped element 8 here is shown as a metal stampingsimulating an angular-shaped C in crosssection, the transverse parallelsides 13 of which have opposed integral coplanar parts 14 terminating inflanges 15. The flanges 15 are spaced apart a distance about half theover-all width of the element 8. Preferably, the lateral sides 13 aremedially depressed at 17 to enhance the compressible strength of theelement. This element 8 is adapted to be secured to the buildingstructure, the floors, Walls, and/ or ceiling, where it is desired toarrange a partition or divider, somewhat as indicated in FIG. 1.

The element 9 here is shown as extruded metal, preferably aluminum, andis of substantial E cross-section with a base 18, sides 19 and themedial part 20. As will be apparent from the drawings, the transversedistance be tween the sides 19 is considerably greater than thetransverse width of the element 8. However, the inside depth of theelement 9 is preferably substantially the same as the outside depth ofthe element 8, but it is obvious the depth of the element '9 may begreater than the outside depth of the element 8. Thus, as seen in FIG.5, when the two elements 8 and 9 are fixed in embracively-opposedrelationship, the edges of the sides 19, of the element 9, are disposedin substantially the same plane as the external plane of the base 16 ofthe element 8. To enhance the ornamental appearance of the element 9,the edges of the sides 19 are beveled as shown at 21.

The medial part 20, of the element 9, in transverse width or thicknessis substantially the same as the transverse distance between the opposedparallel sides of the flanges 15. Hence, when the elements 8 and 9 areassembled, the medial part 20 fits between the flanges 15 and precludesany relative transverse shifting of the two elements, when anchoredtogether. In depth, the medial part 20 is somewhat less than the depthof the flanges 15, as clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and for reasonswhich will be apparent presently.

A pair of transversely-spaced grooves 22 are formed longitudinally inthe exposed face of the medial part 20 of the element 9. These groovesare for the reception of the bars 12 to retain the panels 11 in place onthe supports. The transverse spacing of the grooves 22 is such that whenthe bars 12 are in place in the grooves 22, a seat is formed betweenthem for the edges of the panel 11. Such a seat is provided by reason ofthe fact that the width of the bars 12 is materially greater than thedepth of the grooves 22, hence the bars 12 extend above the exteriorface of the element 9. To enhance the ornamental appearance of thesepanel supports, the exposed faces of the bars 12 are formed withlongitudinal serrations 23, as most clearly shown in FIG. 6. Also in usethe bars 12 are cut to exact lengths and widths of the panel used in theinstallation and each are cut on a 45 angle so as to form a miteredjoint as shown in FIG. 2. It should be obvious that the bars 12 wheninserted in the channels 22, when such channels are positioned as shownin the lower portion the illustration of FIG. 4 shimming or the like(not shown) may be provided to prevent accidental or other displacementtherefrom. i

The fastener 10 here is shown as comprising a bar 24 and screw 25. Asbest indicated in FIG. 7, the bar 24 is of elongated rectangular formand of arcuate cross-section. These fasteners 10 secure the elements 8and 9 in opposed embracive relationship by positioning the bars 24transversely of the assembled elements with the convex faces of the barsin contact with the inner ends of the flanges 15 and with the screws 25extending through suitably-placed holes 26 in the medial part 20 of theelement 9 between pairs of grooves 22. The manner in which suchpositioning is effected will be explained presently.

The panel 11, although here shown as glass, may be of practically anydesired material, of which there are many standard types on the marketand for which these improved supports are especially designed for use.These panels involve any of the forms of hardboard, plywood,pressedwood, wallboard, plastic, metal, cement asbestos boards, etc.

The elements 8 and 9 and the bars 12 are intended to be formed inavariety of standard lengths, such as 4, 8, 12 and 16 feet, from whichsections of the required length maybe selected or formedfor the requiredpartition set-up.

For use at corners, two sections of the element 9 are each 'mitered atone end and the two bonded together as shown in FIG; 2'. Forintermediate division of a partition building structure, floor, wall, orceiling, by the use of screws 27 (FIG. 3) or bolts, set in any of theconventional anchoring plugs provided for inserting'into holes bored inthe building structure. ,The vertical section 8 of element 8 is placedon the horizontal section and anchored to the vertical wall by screws 8"or the like.

, ,S'econdly.A desired length of element 9 has one or more of thefasteners 10 set in place withthe screw 25 suspending the plate 24 onthe end of the screw and longitudinally disposed of the element 9; Thiswill permit the plate 24; to pass through the slot between the changesand below the inner edges thereof.

Thirdly.The element 9 is 'then simultaneously set down over the element8 which disposes the plate, or plates 24 below the inner edges of theflanges 15.

.F0urthly.--The screw, or screws, 25 is turned which results in turningthe plate 24 until'the convex face initiates contact with the inneredges of the flanges 15. Such contact arrests any, furtherturning of theplate 24. Thereupon, the further turning of the screw 25 will draw the aplate 24 up tightly, against the flanges 15 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Fifthly.-Suitably dimensioned panels 11 are then set in place betweenthe grooves 22 and the bars 12 are dropped into the grooves, therebyabutting the opposed perimetrical faces of the panel so as to secure itin place to the support.

When it is desired or necessary to remove a partition the reversedsequence of these steps will make that operation extremely facile,leaving exposed on the floor, wall or ceiling only the apertures left bythe screws. Also if idifierent panelling material is desired than thatalready in place it should now be obvious that only the bars 12 from oneside of the panel need be removed and the old panel simply removed andreplaced and the bars 12replaced.

Although but one specific embodiment o f'this invention is herein shownand described it will be understood that details of the constructionshown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit oftheinvention as defined by the following claims.

, I claim:

l. A building-partition support comprising, a. an anchoring element ofangular C-shaped cross-section having a flat base part with spacedtransversely-disposed parallel parts disposing coplanar parts extendingin inward opposition and terminating in flanges extending inwardlytoward the. base part and adapted to be anchored to a floor and wall,

4 b. a panel-mounting element of E-shaped cross-section having theinwardly-extending medial part of a width to fit between theinwardly-extending flanges of the anchoring element and having a pair ofparallel grooves disposed longitudinally inward from the exterior faceof the medial part defining a panel-supporting part between the grooves,1 c. a pair of flat bars greater in width than the depth of the groovesremovably positioned in the grooves and forming a seat between the barsfor the edge of a panel resting on the medial part, and

d. fasteners for securing the elements in opposed nested relationship.2. A building-partition support comprising,

i a. an anchoring element of angular C-shaped cross-section having aflat base part with spaced transversely-disposed parallel partsdisposing coplanar parts extending in inward opposition and terminatingin flanges extending inwardly toward the base part and adapted to beanchored to a floor and wall,

b. a panel-mounting element of E-shaped cross-section having theinwardly-extending medial part of a width to fit between theinwardly-extending flangesof the anchoring 7 element and having a pairof parallel grooves disposed longitudinally inward from the exteriorface of the medial part defining a panel-supporting part between thegrooves, c. a pair of flat bars greater in width than the depth of thegrooves removably positioned in the grooves and forming a seat betweenthe bars for the edge of a panel resting on the medial part, and d.fasteners V for securing the elements in opposed nested relationshipeach comprising a narrow plate of arcuate cross-section in width lessthanbut in length greater than the space between the flanges on thecoplanar parts and having a central threaded aperture and v V a screwextending through an aperture in the medial part of the mounting elementthreaded into the plate aperture for fixedly positioningw theplatecrosswise below the inwardly extending flanges to secure the twoelements in opposed nested relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent -UNITED STATES. PATENTS2,205,519 Eiber et a1. June 25, 1940 2,888,718 Francotte June 2, 1959FOREIGN PATENTS V 7 991,563 France June 20, 1951 France Nov. 16, 1955

1. A BUILDING-PARTITION SUPPORT COMPRISING, A. AN ANCHORING ELEMENT OFANGULAR C-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION HAVING A FLAT BASE PART WITH SPACEDTRANSVERSELY-DISPOSED PARALLEL PARTS DISPOSING COPLANAR PARTS EXTENDINGIN INWARD OPPOSITION AND TERMINATING IN FLANGES EXTENDING INWARDLYTOWARD THE BASE PART AND ADAPTED TO BE ANCHORED TO A FLOOR AND WALL, B.A PANEL-MOUNTING ELEMENT OF E-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION HAVING THEINWARDLY-EXTENDING MEDIAL PART OF A WIDTH TO FIT BETWEEN THEINWARDLY-EXTENDING FLANGES OF THE ANCHORING ELEMENT AND HAVING A PAIR OFPARALLEL GROOVES DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY INWARD FROM THE EXTERIOR FACEOF THE MEDIAL PART DEFINING A PANEL-SUPPORTING PART BETWEEEN THEGROOVES, C. A PAIR OF FLAT BARS GREATER IN WIDTH THAN THE DEPTH OF THEGROOVES REMOVABLY POSITIONED IN THE GROOVES AND FORMING A SEAT BETWEENTHE BARS FOR THE EDGE OF A PANEL RESTING ON THE MEDIAL PART, AND D.FASTENERS FOR SECURING THE ELEMENTS IN OPPOSED NESTED RELATIONSHIP.